Game Commissioner Gregory J. Isabella is urging local sportsmen to join him and Game Commission personnel from the Southeast region office for a day of border-edge cutting on State Game Land 229 in Reilly Township, Schuylkill County.

The event is set for 9 a.m. on March 3.

"This border-edge cutting event will give hunters and sportsmen who hunt this area an opportunity to come out and do some habitat work to benefit wildlife," Isabella said. "It also offers hunters an opportunity to get in some scouting prior to the upcoming spring gobbler season."

One of the multitude of wildlife habitat projects conducted by the Game Commission, border-edge cutting is the first step in creating early successional edge habitat. Timing such border-edge cuts during the winter allows deer to browse the tops of the felled trees, while providing benefits to other wildlife in the form of escape cover for smaller birds and mammals from predators.

"The trees in many woodlots have reached a stage in their growth in which they no longer furnish food and cover for certain wildlife," said Land Management Group Supervisor Matthew Belding, who oversees State Game Lands in Schuylkill and Berks counties. "Wildlife species requiring low-growing, dense plant growth for escape cover, resting and nesting cover, and feeding areas will benefit from border cutting. Populations of species, such as cottontail rabbits, woodchucks, ring-neck pheasants, bobwhite quail, and certain songbirds usually increase after a border is cut. In some parts, white-tailed deer also may benefit from border cuttings."

Here are directions to the meeting site:

From Tremont: Travel North on Route 209 for about one mile. Go past the Game Commission parking lot on right side of the road about 100 yards, and then turn right into a gravel lane with signs out front about abandoned mine reclamation projects. Go back the lane and meet at the parking area. Participants will car pool to the cutting location.

From Minersville: At the intersection of Routes 901 and 209, travel south on Route 209 for about six miles. Go through Newtown. Roughly one-half mile past Newtown, turn left onto a gravel lane with signs out front about abandoned mine reclamation projects. Go back the lane and meet at the parking area. Participants will car pool to the cutting location.

2/23/2007